Window construction



May 10, 1938. o. c. CALDWELL 2,115,615

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 10, 1956 y@ j R allie fm/dm;

Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,116,615 x WINDOW `cONs'rRUo'rloisr Ollie c. Caldwell, Lisbon, Ohio Application August 1o, 1936, serial No. 95,066

2 Claims.

'I'he invention relates to improvements in Window construction and is more particularly di' rected to a two-sash double-hung Window.

An object of the improvement is to provide a 5 `Weatherproof window structure of simple and inexpensive construction, which is easily and conveniently installed and eicient in operation to prevent leakage or the inltration of dirt or dust.

A further object of the improvement is to provide a tongue and groove meeting rail which will prevent air leakage and infiltration of dust and dirt at this section of the window.

Another object is to provide such a meeting rail which will be no more expensive than the con- `ventional meeting rail and which will render unnecessary the expense and inconvenience of subsequently weatherstripping this portion of the window. i i

Still another` object of the invention is to pyrogovide a window construction in which the sashes are so mounted in the frame as to obviate the necessity of using the ordinary parting stop and although the usual blind stop and inner stop may be used merely for trim, they are not essen- 25 tial to the proper positioning of the sashes within the frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a weatherproof construction of sill and bottom rail of the inner or lower sash.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a one-piece head casing and water table which effectually takes care of the water drip and requires less material and less labor in construction and installation.`

An important object of the improvement is to provide a weatherproof Window in which the Weatherproong is constructed principally of wood, thus utilizing the great advantage gained by ease and economy of construction over other materials.

Another object is to provide a weatherproof window that will operate with unvarying ease and smoothness, permitting no unnecessary friction by the proper placing of the various parts of the window.

Another object is to provide a weatherproof window with the jambs grooved in such a manner that an eicient sash balance can be installed.

The above objects, together with others which Will be apparent from the drawing and description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved window in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through a Window embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2, an enlarged fragmentary section taken as onthe line 2-2, Fig; 1.

Similar numerals refer throughout the drawing.

The Weather sealed window unit embodying the invention is constructed of wood with a minimum of metal parts. The advantage of a structure of this kind is that the window unit can be manufactured in a lumber mill of a material that can be formed into desirable sizes and shapes with a minimum `of labor and at a minimum cost.

The frame of the window includes a sill IB of conventional o type having an integral rib or tongue II formed on its upper face and arranged to engage in a corresponding groove I2 in the bottom of the lower rail I3 of the inner or lower sash indicated generally at I4. As illustrated in Fig. 1, this tongue and groove are similarly tapered so that they will engage loosely as the sash is being lowered and will produce a tight-fitting wedge contact as the sash is completely closed.

The window frame includes a pair of side jambs I5, each of which may be provided at its inside with a rabbet I6 in which the inside stop I'I may be fitted. Although this inside stop may be used for the purpose of trim, it is `not essential in order to properly `position the sashes of the Window for sliding movement and as the stop is only for architectural effect, it is purposely spaced from the lower sash to prevent friction and also to prevent the stop from becoming stuck or glued to the sash with paint.

Each side jamb I5 has in its face adjacent to the Window a groove I8 for each sash extending the full length of that portion of the side jamb engaged by the sash, that is, from the head jamb I9 to the sill III.

Each groove tapered as best shown in Fig. 2, producing a groove with a narrow bottom to receive a wood weatherstrip 20, preferably hexangular in form and approximately twice as wide as its maximum thickness. This wood weatherstrip is thus formed for a two-fold purpose, it can be readily adjusted into the groove of corresponding shape without effort or without friction, and can be readily and easily removed without danger of breaking or mutilation.

A groove 2I is formed in each sash adapted to register with the groove I8 in the jamb, the groove 2Ibeing of the same shape as the groove I8 but proportionately wider and deeper. This permits of a substantially U-shape sheet metal lining 22 being located within the groove 2I and to similar parts attached to the sash as by nails 23 or the like, this lining or weatherstrip member being preferably of spring metal so that the legs 24 thereof will frictionally engage the sides of the Wood weatherstrip 2D which projects from the jamb into the `groove of the sash as illustrated. In order to properly center the metal lining 22 within the groove 2|, the bottom of said groove is reduced so as to receive the inner edge of the U-shaped lining as indicated at 25.

This metal lining is thus located an ample distance from the walls of the groove 2l so that any swelling of the sash which may be caused by moisture will not interfere with the free action of the sash on the Wood weatherstrip. The metal lining fitting tightly upon the wood Weatherstrip precludes the possibility of any air leakage and of infiltration of dirt or dust and forms a smooth track for the sash to slide upon, thus obviating the necessity of providing a parting stop and also making it unnecessary to provide the usual inner stop and blind stop unless the same may be desired for trim or architectural effect.

While the metal lining 24 frictionally contacts with. the wood strip 20, the friction is slight, being no more than is essential to make the Window weatherproof.

Each wood weatherstrip 20 is made in two parts, each of a length substantially equal to the height of the sash. To install the lower sash the lower sections of the wooden weatherstrips 2! are first put in position in the grooves I8 of the jamb and secured therein as by nails or the like. The lower sash is then placed in the extreme upper part of the frame and is slid down into place, the lower sections of the wood weatherstrips 2|] being received in the groo-ves of the sash.

The upper sections of the wood weatherstrips are then placed in position in the upper portions of the grooves I8 and secured in place, the joints in the wood strips being hidden by the sash. The joint is thus not visible nor does it interfere in `any way with the free movement of the sash' in its movement upward and downward.

It will be noted that the shape of the wood weatherstrip renders it easily and readily installed or removed if necessary. This installation is considerably more simple than when it is necessary to force the weatherstrip in from the top as is customary with the usual metal weatherstrip in other constructions.

The upper sash is installed in the same manner as above described relative to the lower sash. The wood weatherstrip has distinct advantages over the usual metal construction as it is inexpensive and can be cut to any length quickly and easily, thus making it unnecessary to carry a great variety of different lengths in stock.

The head jamb I9 is provided with a similar wood weatherstrip 26 of hexangular form secured within a tapered groove 2l `and adapted to be received in a similar groove 28 in the upper edge of the top rail 29 of the upper sash indicated generally at 3U when the upper sash is in the raised or normal position so as to prevent air leakage or infiltration of dirt or dust at this point.

Although the sashes may be hung upon the usual sash cords with weights, the window is illustrated as provided with a sash balance such as is now coming into general use. Although any form of sash balance may be used, the sash balance known to the trade as the unique balance is preferred. These sash balances are located in grooves 3| provided for the purpose in the side jambs of the window frame and although no attempt has been made to illustrate in detail this unique balance, which in itself does not form a part of the invention, the same is indicated generally at 32.

The blind stop 33, as above stated, may be provided for trim and architectural purpose although it will be readily seen that the same is not necessary to assist in guiding the upper sash and as shown in the drawing, this as well as the inner stop l1 is preferably spaced slightly from the adjacent sash so as not to produce any friction. In order to provide a tight seal `at this point, the blind stop 33 may be provided with a tapered groove 34 which receives a similarly shaped rib 35-upon the abutting edge of the side jamb.

From the above it will be seen that not only are the inner stop and blind stop unnecessary mechanically and so located as to not produce any friction, but the conventional parting stop may be entirely eliminated. This parting stop has always been a source of trouble and annoyance to the craftsman who assembles `and otherwise works upon the window and although attempts have been made to produce a window construction eliminating this troublesome feature, it is not known that any practical construction has ever been developed and placed upon the market.

From the above it will be seen that a frictionless window unit is provided, the only point of sliding contact between the sash and frame being the points where the metal linings 22 contact with the wood weatherstrips 20.

The meeting rails 36 and 31 of the upper and lower sashes respectively are tongued and grooved together along their entire lengths as shown at 38 and 39, the tongue of each meeting rail engaging a similarly shaped groove in the other rail so that in the closed position of the two sashes the joint between the edges of the sashes is airtight and prevents inltration of dust or dirt and the two sashes are securely locked together to prevent rattling noises as well as warpage of either sash. By providing tapered tongues and grooves as illustrated, the two sashes are drawn tightly together when in the closed position as Very clearly illustrated in Fig, 1.

The head casing and water table combined is preferably constructed in one piece as indicated at 4D and provided with the upwardly disposed tapered rib 4I over which the lap siding, shingles or the like may be mounted. The lower end of the combined head casing and water table is rabbeted as at 42 to receive the upper end of the side casing 43. This construction saves labor and material. The head casing is made of thicker material than the side casing, thus forming a hidden joint which cannot dry out and show a crack as is often the case with present constructions. It also projects out farther than the side casing, forming a Water drip and the water cannot run into the joint because of the rabbet.

As is well known, one of the diflicuities encountered by architects, contractors and constructors of houses and buildings of various kinds, is to render the house or building air-tight, or to insulate it against the inltration of cold air, wind, soot, dirt and dust through small openings and crevices. This is particularly difficult to accomplish at the windows which are generally constructed with sashes arranged to slide up and down.

Various means have been devised in the past in an attempt to accomplish the desired result,

such as the use of so called weatherstripping devices, consisting of wood or metal strips in combination with compressible felt pads or the like which are tacked or nailed against the junction between the stationary and slidable portions of the window in an effort to provide an air-tight joint. It has been particularly difficult to successfully apply thesewell known weatherstripping means to that section of the window comprising the junction between the upper and lower sashes of the window, commonly called the meeting rail.

Various means have been devised to render this junction air-tight when the Windows are in their closed position, such as by overlapping moldings or by having the meeting rails tapered along their adjoining surfaces. It has been found, however, that such devices are generally ineffective due to the relatively short path through which the leakage of air can take place and they become totally inoperative upon any slight warping which usually occurs in the meeting rails.

It will be seen that the present invention overcomes the diiculties encountered inprior means or device-s to effectively insulate or render airtight the joint between the meeting rails of the twio sashes when they are in closed position, by providing the sashes with a new and novel design of meeting rail having interengaging tongued and grooved parts along their entire Width. 'I'hese improved meeting rails can be manufactured economically and when assembled with the cooperatside jambs having tapered grooves therein, a window sash having tapered grooves in its side edges, oppositely tapered, wood weatherstrips fixed in the grooves in the side jambs and extended into the grooves inthe sash, and substantially U- shape resilient lining strips secured in the grooves -in said sash and frictionally engaging the tapered sides of said weatherstrips.

2. A weatherproof Window structure including side jambs having tapered grooves therein, a window sash having tapered grooves in its side edges of greater width than the grooves in the side jambs, oppositely tapered, wood weatherstrips fixed in the grooves in the side jambs and extended into the grooves in the sash, and substantially U-shape resilient lining strips secured in the grooves in said sash and frictionaliy engaging the tapered sides of said weatherstrip.

OLLIE C. CALDWELL. 

